The Pittsburgh Pirates fans can only boast a couple of Cy Young Award-winning pitchers: Vern Law in 1960 and Doug Drabek in 1990. It has been 35 years of drought of awards on the mounds of the Pennsylvania stadium. However, there is a good chance that both will have company this year under the spotlight caused by Paul Skenes in his second year, posting a 2.07 ERA with 181 strikeouts in 161 innings.
There are still five weeks left in the season, but many are predicting that the Pirates right-hander will win the National League’s top award. In an interview with the last Cy Young winner with the Pirates, he stressed that Pittsburgh will finally have a new award in its history. “I think so too, and that’s good. I hope so. It will be wonderful to be able to do it,” Law said earlier this week.
Paul Skenes with limited room for improvement
For some former Pittsburgh Pirates and MLB players, they have mentioned that Paul Skenes cannot be expected to improve his performance from the mound, since each of his starts borders on perfection. “To top what he’s done so far in the majors? There doesn’t seem to be much room for improvement, at least his 50 starts have been fantastic,” said the 1990 Cy Young winner.
Sunday was Skenes’ 50th major league start, and it was one of his best. He struck out seven, allowed three hits in seven scoreless innings. He left the game to a standing ovation from the PNC Park crowd as the Pirates beat the Colorado Rockies 4-0. With that performance, Skenes lowered his lifetime ERA to 2.02. Since the start of the Live Ball Era in 1920, the only pitcher with a lower ERA in his first 50 starts is Vida Blue, who posted a 2.01 mark between 1969 and 1972.
Who has the best ERA with the Pittsburgh Pirates?
Looking at the other pitchers on this list, it’s been decades since anyone even came close to what Skenes did:
- Vida Blue: 2.01 (1969-72)
- Paul Skenes: 2.02 (2024-25)
- Howie Pollet: 2.15 (1941-46)
- Orel Hershiser: 2.15 (1984-85)
- Jerry Koosman: 2.15 (1967-69)
What Paul Skenes did is admirable. Not bad for someone who is in his first full season in the major leagues. “It’s amazing what he’s able to do. You can see it in his fastball, in the velocity, the control. All of that was combined this afternoon. To be able to mix it up, go to the changeup, the sweeper, etc. He’s always in control, which is really impressive,” said Pirates manager Don Kelly.
It’s very difficult to put those expectations on him in his first full season in the major leagues. He just keeps going out and doing what he does. Skenes has quickly focused on what’s ahead. He has made his mark, but this trajectory has never been limited to 50 starts. “I just have to do it in the next 50 minutes, and in the next 50. I think consistency is the most important thing. Being on the field, doing the same thing every day. That’s all you can ask of players. They’ve been pretty consistent so far. You just have to keep going,” said Paul Skenes, the next Cy Young winner?
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